Flush-valve



"narran srarns' Parnu-r orrion EDWARD L. KELLAN, OF CHOAGO, ILLINOIS.

,FLUSH-VALVE.

Application led April 1,

To all Qtr/Loin it may concern Be it known that l, EDWARD L. KELLAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county ot Cook and State ot illinois, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Flush-Valves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters ot reference marked thereon, which form a part et this specitication.

This invention relates to improvements in flush valve devices for supplying a desired volume ot liquid through a desired interval otl time from a source of liquid supply under pressure to a place or places where the liquid is to be used. The present invention relates to that type ot valve commonly known as semi-automatic wherein the valve is opened for the flow ot liquid therethrough through the instrumentality ot a manually operable device and isv automatically closed by reason ot di'zerential pressures on the valve parts..

y Among the objects of the invention are to improve the means employed in the valve to, produce the at'ter lill in the connected bowl and to provide in this connection a construction and arrangenient ot parts associated therewith as will insure the washing away of particles tending to cling to the valve seat and injure or destroy the seat packing.

Other objects of the invention are to iinprove and simplify valve structures ot this general character and the invention consists in the combination and arrangement ot the parts shown in the drawings and described in the accompanying` specification and set t'orth in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings Figure l is a vertical axial section olf the Hush valve embmlying` my improvements, said section being on the line l-l ot Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line oi" Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the valve in its open position, said section being in a plane at right angles to the plane ot the section shown in Fig. l.

As shown in the drawings 9 designates the valve casing, l0 its inlet branch and .1l its outletv branch. The upper end of the cas- Specification of Letters Patent.

1916. Serial No. 88.230.

ing is closed by a screw threaded plug l2. rlChe casing is provided near its inlet branch with an internal iange 14 on which is formed an upwardly facing annular body seat 15. 1G designates as a whole the main valve which has a seat face, preferably formed on a yieldingring 1T, to engage the body seat. rThe said ring 17 is confined between the body of the valve 16 and a plate 18 which latter is provided with an externally screw threaded hollow stem 19 that extends upwardly into a hollow neck 20 that is made integral with and extends upwardly from the body ot the valve 16; said neck being internally screw threaded to engage the screw threads of the stern to thereby aord a clamping pressure on the seat ring 17 between the parts 1G and 1S. The valve is guided in its opening and closing movement by a suitable guide cage 23 which lits closely7 within the hollow body seat flange 14. Carried by the upper end oi the neck 2O is a motor piston 25 ot larger diameter than the valve 16. Said piston closely ts within the enlarged bore ot' the casing above the inlet opening, thus dividing the cylinder into upper and lower pressure chambers. The piston is made hollow whereby the upper pressure chamber communicates with the interior of the hollow neck 20.

rlie upper pressure chamber communicates with the inlet side ot the valve through a by-pass 26 which opens at its lower end into the lower pressure chamber and communicates at its upper end through a lateral passage 2T with the upper pressure chamber. rlhe flow of liquid through the by-pass is controlled by a valve formed on the inner reduced end of a screw threaded plug 2S which extends into the lateral passage 27 and is screw threaded in a hollow lug or boss 29. Said boss is closed at its outer end by a stuliing boi; through which the plug extends whereby the plug is accessible to adjust the opening 27. The inner end ot' the glug Q8 which extends into the opening 27 is obliquely cut away or scart'ed at one side a sufficient distance from the end thereof to provide a restricted liquid passage between the upper end otl the by-pass 26 and the upper pressure chamber; and the area of this passage may be increased or decreased by turning the plug in the proper direction. By scaring or tapering the inner end of the plug sharp edges are produced which serve, upon rotating the plug backwardly and forwardly a few times in the opening 27, to clear the opening of sediment which may tend to lodge therein and thereby clear the passage for free fiow of liquid theretl'irough. Wvith this construction it becomes unnecessary to entirely remove the plug to clear the opening.

At the upper end of the hollow stem 19 is formed an annular seat which coperates with a starting or release valve 30 carried by the upper end of a valve stein 31 which latter extends through the hollow stem 19 and the hollow main valve and through the guide cage Q3 for the main valve. The starting or release valve is held against its seat by a spring 39, which is interposed between the main valve and a suitable shoulder or abutment 33 on the stem. Said spring 32 is preferably conical, being made larger at its upper end, in order to secure a wide bearing against the main valve, thereby tending to hold the starting valve squarely on its seat and avoid the latter valve tilting on said seat.

The said starting valve is operated by means of a crank arm 34e arranged below the stem 31 and in line therewith7 said crank arm being carried by a rock shaft 35 which extends outwardly through a suitable stuifing box 36 in the side wall of the casing and may be provided with any suitable form of manual controlling device, such as a lever. The said crank arm 3&1 is curved on its upper face which engages the lower end of'said stem 31 and the lower end of said stem may be likewise rounded so as to effect a direct upward lift of the starting valve with small friction and a minimum tendency to tilt the auxiliary valve.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the inlet pressure is equalized on both sides of the piston 25 and the inlet pressure acting against the top of the main valve 16 holds the latter against its seat. When the starting valve islifted olf its seat liquid from the upper pressure chamber is free to pass to the outlet side of the valve and the effect of this release is to reduce the pressure above the piston 25 and to thereby permit the differential pressures7 which act on the lower side of the piston 25 and the upper side of the main valve, to raise or open the latter so as to permit the flow of liquid through the valve.

After the valve is thus opened the pressures on the upper and lower sides of the piston Q5 are gradually equalized through the'by-pass 26. and, upon the equalization of the pressures on the upper and lower sides of the piston, the inlet pressure acts on the main valve to close it.

The rapidity of fiow of the liquid through the by-pass Q7 and the consequent opening i periodof the valve is governed by the adjustment of the screw threaded plug 28; the larger the effective area of the opening 2T the shorter will be the period in which the main valve remains open and vice versa.

Arranged across the lower end of the bypass 26 is a screen 40 by which to protect the by-pass valve against solid matter which is carried in suspension in the flushing liquid. The location of the screen shown is advantageous inasmuch as the rush of liquid against the same during the flushing period serves to keep the screen clean.

Referring now to my improvement to provide a' restricted flow of liquid through the valve after the main flow has practically ceased and thereby provide an after lill in the bowl, the same is made as follows.:

l2 designates a. shell or tube which surrounds the main valve and its hollow stein and normally rests at its loweredge against the upper face of the internal annular flange 14C of the casing. Said shell 4t2 guidingly engages a series of angularly separated ribs 43 on the hollow neck 20 and has free vertical movement relatively to said val f'e stem. The radius of the main valve 16 is slightly less than that of the ribs so that thereby is provided between the periphery of the main valve and said shell an annular space '-14 through which liquid may pass in restricted volume.

rllhe said shell carries a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs 45, herein shown as having the form of short screws that ar screw threaded through openings 46' in the shell. [Fliese lugs are located in the path of the valve 16. The relation of the parts is such that the shell Ll2 is stationary during the first part of the opening` movement of the main valve. lV hen the rising main val ve engages the lugs 45 of the shell, the shell rises with the main valve during the remaining portion of its opening movement. As a result of this construction the seat 15 and the seating face 17 ofthe main valve are not subjected to eXtreme cutting action of the liquid at the first opening of the main valve inasmuch as the flow of the liquid is restricted to the volume which may pass downwardly through the shell and through the narrow annular opening 14 and also between the lower end of the shell and the upper face of the flange le; these restricted passages receiving the principal cutting action of the liquid.

llhen the main valve is raised to its full height, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the shell l2 extends considerably below the plane of the seating face of said valve. Therefore, during the closing movement of the valve, the lower edge of said shell first engages its seating surface formed on the upper face of the flange 14 and thereby cuts off the full flow llO or the liquid, but permitting an after ltlow volume such as will escape beneath the shell and through the annular passage 44. The parts are so adjusted that a sutlicient volume orp liquid has passed through the valve for the practical iiushing operation desired when the shell 42 strikes the flange 14, and during the remaining portion ot the closing movement the liquid which escapes through the valve will be sufficient to produce the desired after fill in the bowl.

A further advantage rising out of the use of the cutting 0E shell thus. described is that the areas of the passaoes for the after flow are so small as to prevent the passage therethrough of solid matter of substantial dimension carried by the liquid and the after How will be suiiicient to wash away any solid matter which may tend to cling to the seat. Thereby is avoided the liability of pipe chips or any other solid matter being caught between the valve and its seat so as to prevent lull closing of the valve with a result oli' causing the valve to leak or injure the seating faces.

The volume of the after flow may be regulated by raising or lowering the lugs 45. This may conveniently be eil'ected by providingthe shell with a number of openings 46 located in different vertical planes which are screw threaded to receive the screw threaded lugs 45. When the lugs occupy the lower openings 46 the duration of the after flow will be shortest and when said lugs occupy the upper openings 46 the duration of the after flow will be greatest as will be apparent.

ln some instances it may be desirable to provide the casing with a resilient butler such as is indicated by 47. In case such bui'er be required it may be conveniently attached to the boss 29 by means of a screw threaded sleeve 48 screw threaded to the boss and provided with an inturned edge 49 that engages over the buffer to hold it in place. lWhen itis desired to adjust the valve plug 28, said butler may be readily removed by unscrewing the sleeve 48 as will be apparent.

The shoulder 33 against which the lower end et the spring 32 bears is preferably enlarged, as shown, in order that the flow ot' water striking the same may assist to close the main valve, in the event that it tends to stick in the casing because of too close a lit or because the pressure of the source of supply is so low as to render the equalization ot the pressures through the hy-pass 26 sluggish,

lt will be understod that the structural details illustrated may be varied somewhat within the spirit and scope of' the claims hereto appended.

I claim as my invention y l. A flush valve device having au inlet and an outlet, a main. valve piece which cv'r-n trols the flow of the flushing liquid and provided with an upstanding neck smaller than the main valve piece, means for opening the main valve piece, means constructed to automatically close it, and means to produce a restricted after tlow subsequent to cutting off the main flushing flow, said latter means comprising a shell surrounding said main valve piece and the neck, with a restricted fluid passage between the shell and valve piece, said shell being open at the top for liquid flow from the inlet and being movable relatively to the main valve piece and means carried by the shell abreast the neck and normally spaced from, but in the path of, the main valve piece it rises for causing the shell to move with the main valve piece during the extreme opening movement ot the latter.

2. A `flush valve device comprising a casing having an inlet and outlet, with an internal flange between them formed to provide a seat, a valve piece cooperating therewith and provided with an upstanding neck having` guide ribs, an open top shell surrounding the valve piece and neck and guidingly engagingly said ribs, and normally resting` on said {lang-e and -movable relatively to the valve piece, there being` a restricted liquid passage between the shell and the valve piece, and a projection on the shell abreast the neck normally spaced from, but in the path, or" the valve piece and adapted, when the valve piece is partially raised, to be engaged thereby, whereby the shell is thereafter raised with the valve piece, said shell engaging said flange prior to the final closing movement ot the valve piece.

S. tlush valve device comprising l, casing having an inlet and outlet, with an internal Lange between them Jformed to provide a seat, a valve piece cooperating therewith, an open top shell in the path of the liquid flow surrounding` the valve piece and normally resting on said llange and movable relatively to the valve piece, there being a restricted liquid passage between the shell and the valve piece, a projection from the wall ot said shell spaced above and in the path ot the valve piece and adapted, when the valve piece is partially raised to be eugaged thereby, whereby the shell is taerea iter raised with the valve piece, said shell eng movement of the valve piece, and means 'for vertically adjusting said projection on said shell.

4. flush valve device comprising a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main valve piece which controls the flow of: the flushing liquid through the shell and having an upstanding reduced neck, an auxiliary valve within the neck which controls the i ain valve piece, the valve. casing being 1ra-ging said ange prior to the iinal closing llO provided with an internal flange between the inlet and outlet on which is formed a seat to cooperate with the main valve piece, a shell surrounding the main valve piece and its said neck, with a restricted liquid passage 4between it and the main valve piece and adapted to normally rest on the internal iiange of the casing, said shell being spaced from said neck and the passage between the shell and neck being open to the flow of liquid through said valve, said shell being movable relatively to the main valve piece, and a projection onthe shell extending toward the neck and spaced from the main valve piece-and adapted to be engaged by the main valve piece when the latter rises.

Y 5. A flush valve device comprising a casing, a main valve which controls the flow of the flushing liquid and having an upstanding reduced portion, an auxiliary valve which controls the main valve, the valve casing being provided with an internal flange on w-hich is formed a seat to coperate with the main valve, a shell surrounding the main valve and its upstanding portion, with a restricted luid passage between said shell and valve, said shell' being adapted to normally rest on said internal flange and being movable relatively to the main valve and provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings, and a stud adapted to be engaged in either one of said openings and to be engaged by the main valve when the latter rises.

6. A flush valve device comprising a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet and with an internal seat between them, a reciprocating unit within the casing comprising a main valve piece to engage said seat, a reduced upstanding hollow member and a piston surrounding and carried by said member and of larger area than the valve piece and dividing` the casing into an upper and a lower pressure chamber, the latter in communication with the inlet, a by-pass connecting the inlet with the upper pressure chamber, means to release pressure in the upper pressure chamber to the outlet side of the valve, a sleeve surrounding the main valve piece and upstanding member, with a restrictedv liquid passage between said sleeve and valve piece, said sleeve being movable relatively to the valve piece and normally seating against a part in the casing to obstruct the flow of liquid, and a stud on the sleeve extending toward said reduced hollow member over said valve piece, whereby said sleeve is lifted with the main valve at the end of its opening movement, while permitting it to descend to its seat in advance of the closing movement of the main valve piece.

7. A llush valve device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet and provided therebetween with an internal seat, a main valve piece cooperating with said seat to control the flow cit-flushing liquid and provided with a hollow neck smaller in diameter than said main valve piece, a piston movable with the main valve piece and dividing the casing intol upper and lower pressure chambers, an auxiliary valve within said neck to controlY communication between said upper pressure chamber and the outlet,with means to normally hold the auxiliary valve closed, manual means to open said auxiliary valve, an open top shell surrounding the main valve piece and its neck and spaced from the neck to form a passage into an open communication with said inlet, there being a passage for restricted liquid flow between said shell and said main valve piece, said shell being movable relatively to the said main valve piece,- and a projection on the shell abreast said neck spaced from and in the path of movement of the main valve piece.

S. A flush valve device comprising acasing having an inlet andan outlet and pro-` vided therebetween with an internal seat, a main valve piece cooperating with said seat to control the flow of flushing liquid and provided with a hollow neck smaller in diameter than said main valve piece, a piston movable with the main valve piece and dividing the casing into upper and lower pressure chambers, an auxiliary valve within said neck to control communication between said upper pressure 'chamber and the outlet, with means to normally hold the auxiliary valve closed, manual means to open said auxiliary valve, an open top shell surrounding the main valve piece and its neck and spaced from the neckto form a passage in open communica-tion with said inlet, there being a passage for restricted liquid flow between said shell and said main valve piece, said shell being movable relatively to the said main valve piece, a projection on the shell abreast said neck spaced from and in the path of movement of the'main valve piece, and means to vertically adjust said shell projection.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of November, A. D. 1915. n

EDVARD L. KELLAN.-

Witnesses lV. L. HALL, R. VILLNER. 

